JACKSON, Miss. | Diego Melendez picked up three hits, but it wasn't enough as Arkansas-Pine Bluff scored a pair of runs in the ninth to pull away from Jackson State 8-6 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) contest at Braddy Field on Thursday afternoon.
Melendez finished 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI for Jackson State (24-25, 14-14 SWAC) in the loss, picking up a double. Meanwhile, four other players each picked up a hit for Jackson State who battled back from an early three-run deficit to Arkansas-Pine Bluff (23-30, 16-12). After tying the game at 4-all in the fifth inning, the Tigers fell behind 6-4 in the top of the seventh inning before tying the contest up with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. However, Arkansas-Pine Bluff used a pair of runs in the top of the ninth for the win.
Kade Walker (5-4) suffered the loss out of the bullpen, working 4.0 innings allowing four runs on six hits. He came in relief of Talmadge Davis, who went 5.0 innings allowing four runs (two earned) with eight strikeouts.
How It Happened
- 1st inning (top) - Lazaro Alvarado doubled down the rf line, RBI (1-0 B); Aaron Grant scored; Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1-0.
- 2nd inning (top) - Vinny Saumell reached first on an error by c, advanced to second on the throw, RBI (0-1 S); Blake Coleman advanced to third, scored on the throw, unearned; Nick Hockemeyer scored; Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3-0.
- 3rd inning (top) - Pierre Cabral flied out to cf, sacrifice fly, RBI (0-0); Robert Tate Jr. advanced to third; Tyree Reed scored. Melendez doubled to left center, RBI (0-1 K); Tate scored; Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3-2.
- 5th inning (top) - Lazaro Alvarado singled through the right side, RBI (0-0); Zach Wieder scored, unearned; Arkansas-Pine Bluff 4-2.
- 5th inning (bottom) - Tate reached on a fielder's choice, SAC, bunt (0-1 F); Reed advanced to second; Isaac McClenty advanced to third on an error by c, scored on the throw, unearned. Edwin Lemus Hudson Jr. doubled to left center, ground-rule, RBI (1-1 KB); Melendez advanced to third; Reed scored, unearned; 4-4.
- 7th inning (top) - Grant homered to left field, 2 RBI (0-2 FF); Wieder scored; Arkansas-Pine Bluff 6-4.
- 7th inning (bottom) - Cabral grounded out to ss, RBI (2-2 BBSFFFF); Tate advanced to third; Reed scored. Melendez flied out to rf to right center, sacrifice fly, RBI (1-0 B); Tate scored; 6-6.
- 9th inning (top) - Grant doubled to right center, RBI (1-2 FFBF); Wieder scored. Alvarado singled to left field, RBI (1-0 B); Grant scored; Arkansas-Pine Bluff 8-6.Â
Up Next
The two teams meet Friday afternoon in game two of the series.
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